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Episode 73: Accomapocalypse

Nathan introduces a new Thinking LSAT feature: Really Dumb Move of the (September 2016) LSAT. A tutoring student of his receives the honors this time for discussing the test’s difficulty with a friend during break and then letting that discussion throw off her performance later. Honorable mention is awarded to a really loud wrist watch. (6:28)

Nathan recommends a Rolling Stone article, Why We’re Living in the Age of Fear. The piece discusses the discrepancy between how safe we feel and how safe we actually are in the world today. Check it out, especially if you’re feeling nervous about the outcome of today’s election. (18:40)

Ben, on the other hand, isn’t afraid of this election or guns or even of taking LSAT practice tests! We both urge listeners to take them early, take them often, and take your test prep to the next level. (24:15)

Listener questions include asking for advice on how to best use the time-and-a half accommodation, why we suggest planning for two test dates, and how to best write an addendum- what to include and what to leave out. We hear a happy update from Episode 62’s Overwhelmed Dad (39:00) and a sad update from listener Tom (46:50), hang in there, Tom!

Ben recommends two books that discuss some underrated traits, being messy and being a quitter. Messy presents the idea that some of the most successful and rewarding times in a person’s life happen when they aren’t planning and organizing perfectly. In Choose Yourself! Be Happy, Make Millions, Live the Dream, author James Altucher suggests quitting strategically and how it can improve your life. (1:02:00)

8 Comments

In my listening, I’m up to only the start of the “sad update.” But I heard no “why we suggest planning for two test dates” which is advertised above to be before that. I was hoping to hear that because it’s similar to, or is, the question I asked in the comment section on Episode 71 and which did not garner a response there.

In the context of taking multiple tests and possibly postponing admission for a year, Ben implied that we all have 40-year careers ahead of us so one additional year is no biggie, and Nathan suggested that there are many fulfilling things to be done with a year off. It’s strange that Ben chose to say “40 years”: in December I will take the LSAT for the second time; the first time was — do the math! — in Dec., 1976.

By the way, here’s a question for you — this is not a test, as I don’t know the answer:

When did the LSAT score scale change from 200-800, which it was for the Dec. 1976 test, to the current 120-180? And for extra points: –why the change — why was one-tenth the granularity considered an improvement?
–why is the range of both scales 6 times a power of 10?
–why don’t both scales start at 0, or 100, rather than 200 or 120?

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About Nathan Fox

I am the founder of Fox LSAT, a UC Hastings law grad, Babson MBA grad, and the author of Cheating the LSAT. I'll inspire you, entertain you, and help you see the test the way I do. My students rave about me, and their LSAT scores show dramatic improvement.